Internal-combustion-engine starter.



T. E. PLATER & E. B. REES.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED NO,V.11, 1909.

1,071,260,, Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON. D. c,

UNTTED STATES PATENT orrion.

THOMAS E. PLATE-R AND EDWARD B. REES, OF MONETT, MISSOURI.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION-ENGINE STARTER.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, THOMAS E. PLATER andEDWARD B. Rnns, citizens of the United States, residing at Monett, inthe county of Berry and State of Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Internal-Combustion-Engine Starters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and refersparticularly to an improved starting means for actuating the enginewithout the necessity of cranking the same.

An object of this invention is to provide an internal combustion enginewith improved means whereby the same may he started from the operatorsseat upon the vehicle whether the engine has been standing for aconsiderable time in an inoperative position, or whether the same hasbeen run at a short time previous to the starting of the same.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a device of thischaracter which may be applied to engines of practically any formationand make in common use and also a device which comprises but fewadditional elements to the engines now employed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel means forascertaining which of the cylinders is in proper adjustment for animpulse and means whereby a charge may be admitted to such cylinderirrespective of the carbureter used in connection with the engine.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the meansfor effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the forward end of amotor vehicle, disclosing an internal combustion engine applied to thesame and having the improved device attached thereto. F i 2 is a planand sectional view of the improved needle valve employed, and Fig. 3 isa diagrammatic view of the system of circuits employed for igniting thecharge within the cylinders.

Referring to the drawings in which is disclosed the preferred embodimentof the in vent-ion, the numeral 10 designates the forward end of theframe of a motor vehicle Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 26,1913.

Application filed November 11, 1909. Serial No. 527,495.

upon which is disposed the internal combustion engine 11 having thecylinders 12, 13, 14land 15. The cylinders are mounted upon the enginein the usual manner and are provided with water jackets 16, thecylinders being disclosed as being cast in pairs and having integralwater jackets thereabout. The engine 11 is provided with a timer 17 ofusual construction, which is employed for timing the spark within thecylinders to cause impulses therein. The cylinders are each providedwith a spark plug 18, which is connected in the well known manner to thevibrator coils 19 which is energized by the exeiter 20. The excite'r 20may be either a battery consisting in a storage battery or a dry cellbattery or may be a magneto. In the latter case if a magneto is employedit a is necessary to provide a storage or a drycell battery for startingthe engine and a suitable switch for cutting out such dry battery andthrowing the magneto into the circuit.

The means for starting the engine includes a needle valve 21 which ispositioned through the heads of each of the cylinders and com prises avalve case 22 in which is disposed a stem 23, the latter being engagedby coarse threads through the upper end of the case 22 and retainedthereon by a suitable cap 24. The lower extremity of the case 22 isterminated within the head of the cylinder, 'while an extension 25 isformed upon one of the same. The extensions 25 carry pipes 26 which leadto a header 27 which is connected by a conduit 28 to a gasolene tank 29.The tank 29 is provided with a suitable iinlet 30 and an air valve 31,the latter being I adapted for connection with a pump from which air ispassed into the tank 29 to place the liquid therein under pressure forthe purpose of sending the liquid to the Leader 27.

As will be noted from Fig. 1, the stems 23 of the needle valves 21 areformed in different lengths, the same increasing according to theoutward position 01": the cylinders from the dash board 32. Crank arms33 are disposed upon the upper ends of the stems 23 and carry connectingrods 34 which are extended hackwardly and through the dash board 32where they are terminated in handles 35. It will thus be observed thatthe valves 21 can be operated independent side of the casing 22 adjaeent the upper end of one another to admit a charge of gasolene orother hydrocarbon from the header 2? into the respective cylinders.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the spark plugs 18 areconnected by wires 36 to the vibrator coils 19. The opposite poles ofthe spark plugs being terminated in the cylinders themselves. Theopposite wires 37 which lead from the vibrator coils 19, are terminatedin the contacts 38 of the timer 17 which are consecutively closed incircuit through the cylinders by the operation of the sliding contact 39mounted upon the commutator shaft.

For the purpose of locating the cylinder which is in position to receivean impulse by an explosion of the hydrocarbon, a plurality of glow lamps40 are employed which are located against the inner side of the dashboard 32 in view of the operator and are connected by wires 41 to thetimer 17, the wires 41 being terminated at the contacts 38. A battery 42is employed which is connected to the circuit with each of the lamps 4:0and is connected by a wire 43 to the body of the engine 11. A suitableswitch 44 is located at the wire 43 to close the circuit when desired.The tank 29 is disclosed in the drawings as being located beneath thefloor of the motor vehicle, although the same may be positioned beneaththe seat of the operator or any other convenient place.

In the operation of the starter the switch 44: is closed, which closesthe circuit through the engine, by reason of the engagement of thesliding contact 39 with one of the stationary contacts of the timer, thecircuits being closed through the engine, wire 43, switch 44: andbattery 42. The circuit passes from the battery &2 through therespective glow lamps to which are connected by the wire &1 to thecontact 38 of the timer which is in engagement with the sliding contact89. As the lamps are consecutively arranged upon the dash board 32, thesame designate the cylinder which is in position for an impulse. Thiscylinder is in such a position that the inlet and exhaust valves areclosed and the timer is so adjusted that upon the closing of the circuitthrough the vibrator coils 19 a spark will be caused to take placewithin such cylinder. The operator now grasps the handle 35 whichcorresponds to the glow lamp 40 which designates the respective cylinderand draws same inwardly upon the dash board 32. This movement rotatesthe stem 23 and causes the needle valve 21 to open and admit a charge ofhydrocarbon or vapor thereof, into the cyl inder, the amount ofhydrocarbon being regulated by the time in which said valve 21 is heldin an open position. The handle 35 is now forced into a closed positionand the eXciter 20 closed in circuit through the vibrator coils 19. Thisaction produces a spark to pass between the points of the spark plugs18, and to ignite the charge thus admitted to the cylinder. This impulseto the engine thus causes the remaining elements of the engine to act bydrawing in the charges from the carburetor in the usual manner.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In an automobile, the combination with an internal combustion enginehaving a plurality of engine cylinders, spark plugs arranged in saidcylinders, a timer connected in circuit with said cylinders and saidspark plugs, of a plurality of lamp circuits, each including said timerand said engine for indicating the active spark plug, a plurality oflamps mounted, one in each of the lamp circuits, a fuel reservoir, pipeconnections bet-ween said reservoir and each. of said cylinders, valves,one for each cylinder and controlling the passage of motive fluid fromsaid reservoir to each cylinder, and actuat ing devices, one for each ofsaid valves disposed in conjunction with the bank of lamps.

In testimony whereof we aiiiX our signa tures in presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS E. PLATER. EDVARD B. REES.

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